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Rio and the Art of Belonging

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  There are trips we plan carefully, and then there are trips that quietly teach us something unexpected. A recent long weekend in Rio de Janeiro became the latter for me. Like many first-time visitors, I arrived captivated by the obvious wonders: the sweep of Copacabana, the view from Corcovado, the dramatic meeting of city, mountain, and sea. Rio carries a beauty that almost resists description. Yet what stayed with me most was not the scenery itself, remarkable as it was, but a growing sense of belonging. Part of that came through experiencing the city alongside someone whose presence helped me see Brazil not as a visitor, but a little more from within. Through shared conversations, introductions to family and friends, and the gift of seeing familiar places through another person’s eyes, Rio began to feel less like tourism and more like participation. That distinction has stayed with me. One evening at Maracanã, surrounded by thousands of passionate supporters wearing Flamengo c...
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The Visibility Paradox of Leadership

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  This past week, I had a conversation that stayed with me. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t confrontational. In fact, it was thoughtful, direct, and grounded in care. The kind of conversation you hope for in a professional community: honest, respectful, and intended to help, not harm. I left it feeling appreciative. One of the things I continue to learn, especially in a close and connected community, is just how much leadership extends beyond the obvious spaces. It’s not confined to meetings, classrooms, or formal communication. It exists in the unplanned interactions and the casual settings where, whether you intend it or not, people are forming impressions. That’s not a complaint. It’s part of the responsibility. But it does create a kind of tension that I don’t think we talk about enough. In education, relationships matter. Some of the most meaningful parts of my career have come from the relationships I’ve built with colleagues, people who started as coworkers and, over time, bec...
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I Was Bitten by a Dog and Learned a Few Things About Life

  Good morning, and happy Friday. Today started with me getting bitten by a dog. To be clear, this was entirely my fault. I might as well have dressed up my hand like a T-bone steak and presented it to a very muscular, highly committed canine. I had the good sense to leave my own 17 year old Pomeranian outside the dog park fence, because I did not want her to get bitten, but then entered the dog park myself to grab a plastic bag. This is the kind of decision making that builds character. The dog lunged. There was blood. A fair amount of it. The owner, understandably, had no idea what had happened. And for reasons I am still unpacking, I smiled, said nothing, and acted like everything was completely fine while actively bleeding. I think it was a combination of embarrassment and empathy. Embarrassment because, well, this was avoidable. Empathy because my own dog has been known to occasionally chomp on someone, and I did not feel like ruining this man’s morning with a full incident re...
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Rethinking Screens: Finding the Right Balance for Learning and Well-Being

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  Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity to observe learning in its many forms. There are moments of deep engagement, creativity, and collaboration that remind me why schools like ours are such special places. At the same time, I have noticed something else that has stayed with me. Students are spending a significant portion of their day on screens. It is a reality in schools across the world, and one that is often framed as a sign of progress. Technology is woven into nearly every aspect of modern life, and education has followed that trajectory. The question we now face is not whether technology belongs in schools. It clearly does. The more important question is whether we are using it in ways that truly serve learning and student well-being. As I have reflected on what I am seeing in our classrooms, and as I have spent time reviewing current research, I find myself returning to a simple but important distinction. Technology can be a powerful tool when it is use...
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Finding the Balance Technology, Learning, and the Questions We Should Be Asking

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  In recent days, I have had conversations with parents about something many schools are wrestling with right now the role of technology in learning. The concern is a fair one and an important one. Are students spending too much time on screens? Are devices becoming a distraction rather than a tool? Are we losing something essential in the process? I will be candid I share some of these concerns. And I also know that the answer is not as simple as removing devices from classrooms altogether. A Familiar Pattern in Education Education has always moved through cycles. We adopt new tools with enthusiasm, sometimes overcorrect, and then, over time, find a more thoughtful balance. We saw it with calculators, with the internet, and now with laptops and tablets. In fact, I found myself thinking back to a piece I wrote a little over a year ago, 21st Century Learning A Quarter Past , where I reflected on how quickly 21st century learning evolved from a forward looking concept into something...
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